The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-11-16
A GUlLELESS ROGUE.
BY LUCY BLAKE.

lgorous-looking, in spite of the white
hair that lay over the collar Of his coat,
and the testimony of seventy years at
least written on his furrowed forehead.
His dress, that of well-to-do Bavarian
peasant, first attracted my attention;
kneebreeches, shiny and smooth from
long wear, and with delicate tracery in
colored silk needlework at the seams; a
leather-fronted waistcoat; blue coat of
aDtiquated cut, with scollop shells orna-
menting it instead of buttons; and what
most struck my eye, trained to note and
copy such details in my pictures, was
a leather belt about six inches wide,
covered thickly with the most skillful
embroidery, also in colored silks of mel
low and beautiful tints. The device was
very grotcsque; harpy-like creatures
smothered in flowers which could have
grown only in some dreamland garden.
The belt shut with an antique silver
clasp, serpent catching its own tail in
its fangs, and was evidently an heirloom
in the family.
Conversationally, found the old man
rather dull, even lacking, it would ap-
pear, as he rambled along a disiointed
narrative in which the name Erika re-
Cured at intervals. He frequently ca
ressed his belt just below where his din
ner lay, mumbling half to himself
''Erika will be the happier for that-yes,
far happier. She little guesses what is
in it."
| was in doubt as to what the old fell
low alluded to; evidently some mysteri-
GUS booty in his belt, but as he contin-
ued: 'lt was not wear and tear that
broke the stitches asked Erika to mend
-she had no suspicion of what she was
sewing up safe inside, )" decided it must
be the belt.
Certainly Erika, whoever she was.
made great mistake in letting this
weak minded old man come alone to a
busy, crowded city like Munich.
My reflections were cut short by our
arrival at the huge station, where a chat
tering party of friends took me into GUS
tody at once. saw the old peasant
walk briskly away with the rest of the
stream, armed with stout stick, and |
straightway forgot his existence for the
time being.
When not unattractive and still
young widow invites man to 90 to the
cemetery with her to tocontempate her late
husbands grave, he is apt to be unpre-
pared with a suitable reply. TO say
briskly he accepts with pleasure, sounds
heartless and unfeeling, while dismal
department and speech beftting the oc-
casion may be construed into a reluc-
tance at going.
Into such embarrassment my landlady,
Frau Mollhaupt, plunged me soon after
my installation at the "Pension Mai
field"
While assisted her to hang wreaths
of tin pansies, and numerous unknown
flowers done in black-and- white beads,
round the railing which held down the
defunct Mollhaupt, it struck me that the
sorrowing relict was prepared to find con
ISOLATION for her loss in unworthy me.
The fearful sentimental tenor of her con
versation causing me great uneasiness, /
proposed, as diversion for us both, a
stroll toward the rows of tall windows
behind which, according 20 Munich law,
the dead are exposed for two days-the
cofiin-lids lifted so that all the living
world may see
There lay the silent testimony of that
days sad mortality; the rich surrounded
by pomp of burning tapers, velvet
drapery and fragrant banks of flowers.
Saddened by this spectacle, | was
turning away, when saw lying in the
plainest of pauper collins an old man
whose face was very familiar. A mo-
ment's reflection recalled the peasant in
the blue coat, my travelling companion
from Rosenheim. Poor old fellow, that
journey was but the preliminary to a
very much longer one which he had
scarcely expected to take so soon. His
garments were suspended on hooks above
his head, conspicuous among them the
embroidered belt which l had noticed 50
particularly A printed notice, with the
words, Observation-Disclosures De
sired, " was attached to the clothes.
Poor Erika, / thought, her heart will
scarcely be made glad, as the old man
| predicted l wished had listened more
/ atteptiyely TO the Iame of the village he
| had mentioned as his home. ] would
recognize it if heard it again, but un-
aided, my memory could not recall it,
! Perhaps /, in all the city, was the only
one who knew a word of the dead stran
! gers history. And what | knew was
barely more than a word-a woman,
name, Erika.
| went to the Police Bureau, where
they told me the old man had fallen dead
in the street from a stroke of apoplexy
No paper or letter had been found upor
him, and M inquiries had been made fol
him. His clothes would be exposed FOL
a week, after which. if still unclaimed
| they would be sold.
Should this sale take place, resolved
TO buy the belt, chiefly on account of it
artistic value, and also because | fell
curious TO know if its half-imbecilt
wearer had any reason fer his mysteriou
allusion to something stitched within it
Returning to the rather too friendly
shelter of the "Pension Maifeld,n il wai
borne in upon me that unless l wished t,
be married of-hand, without regard L
my own inclinations, had better no
tarTy longer, Fate intervened TO spar
me yet a little while.
Lying on my table found Telegram
summoning me at once TO Sehlos
Lerchenfeld, where my sister Dorothy
was visiting. Dorothy was ILL., and ex
pressed desire to see me. Ever sine